Impact of activity trackers on secondary prevention in patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is related to high rates of morbidity and mortality among cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Activity trackers have been used in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in the last years. However, their effectiveness to influence outcomes after CAD is debated. This review summarizes the latest data of impact of activity trackers on CVD risk and outcomes: peak oxygen consumption (VO₂), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), quality of life (QoL), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C).

Articles from 1986 to 2020 in English were searched by electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase). Inclusion criteria were: randomized controlled trials of CAD secondary prevention using an activity tracker which include at least peak VO₂, MACE, QoL, or LDL-C as outcomes. Meta-analysis was performed. After removing duplicates, 604 articles were included and the screening identified a total of 11 articles. Compared to control groups, intervention groups with activity trackers significantly increased peak VO₂ [mean difference 1.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.50–2.57); P = 0.004] and decreased MACE [risk ratio 0.51; 95% CI (0.31–0.86); P = 0.01]. Heterogeneity was low (I² = 0%) for MACE and high (I² = 51%) for peak VO₂. Intervention with an activity tracker also has positive impact on QoL. There was no between-group difference in LDL-C.

CR using activity trackers has a positive and multi-faceted effect on peak VO₂, MACE, and QoL in patients with CAD.